Stupid things I heard throughout residency

[deleted171991]

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i can maybe understand a resident calling attending sir/maam. but attending calling other attendings sir/maam? unless he's the chair or something, then no way. id definitely would not want to work in a place like that. way too formal/hierarchical. attendings are all colleagues, it's very unneccessary in my opnion. but hey i see where people are coming from. if they were raised that way i guess it would seem normal

If my circulator says "yes, sir", he gets a "thank you, sir" from me. I am not a pompous ass, I just like a respectful and professional communication style. We can talk with "sir" in the OR and still chat like friends in the locker room.

 

[deleted171991]

what do you do to peers? do you introduce yourself as dr ffp to other attendings? Once your resident is hired as an attending in your institution, do you still want them to call you Dr FFP? just curious

I go by my first name with every other attending who lets me call them by their first name, and the other way round. That includes all my colleagues, regardless when they graduated.

 

[Twiggidy]

So to reply to @chocomorsel I can find a way to say “yes ma’am/sir” and make it sound very sarcastic. It’s all in the tone

As far as referring to colleagues/etc as ma’am sir for the most part it’s how I approach elders. Many people I work with are 20-30 yrs older than I am so it’s just respecting elders. Sometime I just respond to people at work that way if they ask a question or trying to get my attention. Honestly it’s just a nice way to address someone and even if it sounds strange when I do it, the worst anyone can ever say is, “He has manners”. Maybe some will think it isn’t sincere and sometimes it isn’t, but it’s always hard to knock a person displaying manners. Quite frankly more people need to do it.

 

[deleted50478]

I still do. I have achieved too many things in my life to let a greenhorn underling treat me like his buddy. One thing I can't stand in the US is this completely inappropriate egalitarianism, especially at work. It comes from our societal anti-intellectualism, I guess.

The residents at my current job are 10 times more spoiled than we ever were. And it hasn't been 10 years since my graduation.

I don’t correct people who call me by my first name but I don’t like it (except other attendings can use my first name of course).

If a nurse or CRNA and I are friends and I saw them away from work, say they are introducing me to a spouse or something, I’d tell them to call me my first name, but at work I prefer to be called by my last name. If a couple of people start calling you by your first name it spreads.

 

[chocomorsel]

I don’t correct people who call me by my first name but I don’t like it (except other attendings can use my first name of course).

If a nurse or CRNA and I are friends and I saw them away from work, say they are introducing me to a spouse or something, I’d tell them to call me my first name, but at work I prefer to be called by my last name. If a couple of people start calling you by your first name it spreads.

What I hate is when the nurses do it in front of the patients. I sometimes think it's on purpose, to rub you the wrong way. Or is it a millennial I don't care, everyone gets brownie points for showing up attitude? I don't get it.

 

[chocomorsel]

@Twiggidy, you are from the south aren't you. You know it's not meant to be sarcastic down here. I don't get that at all from all the people who do it and now I have gotten into the habit of it myself.
Down here the sarcastic phrase is "bless your heart". You remember.

 

[Twiggidy]

@Twiggidy, you are from the south aren't you. You know it's not meant to be sarcastic down here. I don't get that at all from all the people who do it and now I have gotten into the habit of it myself.
Down here the sarcastic phrase is "bless your heart". You remember.

Yeah. I remember that one.

If you've seen the movie "Life" with Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, there's a scene where Martin trying to buy a pie from a place where he's not so welcome (if you feel me). He drops a "ma'am" in the scene and that's my go to "sarcastic" ma'am. 🙂

 

[AKMD_1984]

See now calling an attending sir/ma'am in the northeast sounds overly formal and insincere to me. I have only heard a few people do this and while respectful it sounds odd and kissass imo.

thats a terrible generilization

 

[deleted171991]

I think we all should behave like normal human beings, stop letting "egos" run the ship and just get the job done. I hate sucking up and having to have a stupid grin of excitement to show enthusiasm. Lets just work together like a team and teach/learn together rather than be fearful of Dear Leader attending chewing you out over dumb things

Dear Leader is paid **** for risking his license teaching adult toddlers (who generally don't know how little they actually know - I am still finding out myself, 10 years later). So the toddlers had better appreciate when they are actually taught something, instead of being judgmental ungrateful wiseguys. While I understand that hospitals get rich on the back of the residents, that doesn't apply to most academic attendings. All we want is R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Btw, supervising CRNAs is not worse. And working solo/stool sitting beats both.

 

[Guillemot]

Where I work everyone calls me me and all other doctors by Dr. <name> around patients. This should always be done in front of patients. After the patient is asleep some call me by first name some call me doctor still. Fortunately, all are respectful regardless of how they address me. You can call someone sir or ma'am and still be a douche.


As a resident I at times worked with attendings not worthy of respect. There are a-holes and hacks in every walk of life. Medicine is no different. Just because someone has been in practice for years doesnt mean they are any good.

 

[MetaPhysicianBlog]

Where I've traveled there are a lot of Phillipino nurses and the running joke was "how do you say 'fuc_k you' in Tagalog?" Answer? "Yes doctor."

To which I then reply....yes nurse.

 

[Hamhock]

If you’re from the south...not uncommon to hear sir/ma’am.

If you don’t even occasionally use ‘sir or maam’ to your attending then I can pinpoint your geography and tell you I’ve got little to no interest in working there.

At risk of "outing" myself online, I currently work part-time with a surgical residency (ICU, not anesthesiology) in a very liberal city in coastal California and the majority call me sir. It has taken me over a year to get 'Dr. Hamhock'...I'll be retired before they call me by my first name.

Of course, if there were anesthesiology residents on my service, I bet I could get them to use my first name or at least Dr. Hamhock in front of patients/families.

HH

 

[anbuitachi]

At risk of "outing" myself online, I currently work part-time with a surgical residency (ICU, not anesthesiology) in a very liberal city in coastal California and the majority call me sir. It has taken me over a year to get 'Dr. Hamhock'...I'll be retired before they call me by my first name.

Of course, if there were anesthesiology residents on my service, I bet I could get them to use my first name or at least Dr. Hamhock in front of patients/families.

HH

I definitely do feel like we as anesthesiologists are more collegial. we do help each other a lot more often than surgeons. we relieve each other, on call together, occasionally eat together etc. so it make sense anesthesiologists are more likely to call you Dr hamhock.

 

[Temeraire]

At my shop (liberal, west coast, ivory tower), the younger attendings insist repeatedly that I call them by their first name, even if l persist in trying to address them as Dr Lastname. A few of the older, grey-haired attendings do this too, surprisingly. The culture is different, I guess.

 

[fakin' the funk]

Well to be fair, only a dipsh*t would tape it clockwise.

**** that, the only correct and holy way is antiparallel overlapping Y's of tape secured with mastisol on a freshly washed face.

I love how in training ppl teach you to think your ETT just like falls out or if it is nudged it flies across the room like a WWE wrestler

 

[2Fast2Des]

Really

I still do. I have achieved too many things in my life to let a greenhorn underling treat me like his buddy. One thing I can't stand in the US is this completely inappropriate egalitarianism, especially at work. It comes from our societal anti-intellectualism, I guess.

The residents at my current job are 10 times more spoiled than we ever were. And it hasn't been 10 years since my graduation.

Really? So if a guy who you worked with for 3 years since intern year then becomes an attending while you're 4th year, you all of a sudden make them address you as Dr?

 

[2Fast2Des]

Don't get me wrong, I'm against the whole millennial snowflake mentality, but I'm not really with the whole culture of treating people like gods. I kept my mouth shut and said yes sir to those who would perservate on trivial things and seeked out those who I could truly learn and appreciate knowledge from. Quite a few of my co residents (all 4 years) were those wiseguys who knew everything from day 1 whom I would roll my eyes at when they complain when god forbid they actually had to listen to their attending or be mad that they were being told how to do something

 

[Iso4ane]

Calling my attendings Dr ‘So-and-so’ is just a sign of respect (whether it’s deserved or not is a different question). There are residents that recently graduated and I call them Dr ‘So-and-so’ the first few times, even though they would be cool with me calling them by their first name. Interestingly enough, you can tell how recently a person graduated by how many classes will call that person by their first name. There’s an attending who graduated three years ago and only the CA3 class calls them by their first name, while the rest calls them Dr.

 

[Twiggidy]

We can really stop splitting hairs. For the most part, when we're referring to "Call me Dr. X" we're talking about in front of patients and quite possibly other services. If I'm in front of a patient it would be respectful if people called me Dr. and even if we're talking about a case with a cardiologist or a surgeon, it's probably more so a show collegial work environment if my colleagues says, "Hey Dr. Surgeon, this is Dr. Twiggidy and he has some input" rather than "This is Twiggidy and he has input." This is especially true if I don't know said person from other service. If we're having coffee in the cafe prior to a case, then common sense says you don't need to be formal.

 

[MoMoGesiologist]

We need more formality and decorum in the OR. Residents should curtsy to their attendings. Nurses should do a Japan inspired bow. And when the nurse administrator walks through, we should fall to the floor with our heads on the ground.

In all seriousness, respect and formality have a place. But to continue to enforce a strictly hierarchical structure where you show complete deference to your superior, don't speak up or have independent thought or raise some resistance, contributes to why doctors are so easy to manipulate by administrators and the hospital system. How can you expect us to stand up for ourselves or our specialty or to surgeons if we spent our whole training being beaten down like a sad puppy waiting for treats and approval from master? There needs to be a balance.

 

[Consigliere]

@Twiggidy, you are from the south aren't you. You know it's not meant to be sarcastic down here. I don't get that at all from all the people who do it and now I have gotten into the habit of it myself.
Down here the sarcastic phrase is "bless your heart". You remember.

God I remember that phrase during my unfortunate time in the South. Usually uttered by some bible thumping Southern Baptist type immediately preceding a character assassination. For example: "So-and-so.....bless his heart...is a motherfuc_king pedophile." As if uttering that phrase somehow absolved them from spewing vitriolic gossip.

 

[deleted171991]

Really


Really? So if a guy who you worked with for 3 years since intern year then becomes an attending while you're 4th year, you all of a sudden make them address you as Dr?

English is hard. Take a dictionary and re-read my posts. Thanks.

Let me help you:

I go by my first name with every other attending who lets me call them by their first name, and the other way round. That includes all my colleagues, regardless when they graduated.

 

[narcotics999]

I still do. I have achieved too many things in my life to let a greenhorn underling treat me like his buddy. One thing I can't stand in the US is this completely inappropriate egalitarianism, especially at work. It comes from our societal anti-intellectualism, I guess.

The residents at my current job are 10 times more spoiled than we ever were. And it hasn't been 10 years since my graduation.

How is this 10times calculated? you worked 100 hours per week vs 10 hours per week? Your brain performance 100 more powerful than current residents'? Or both, worked 3.2 times longer and thought 3.2 times harder?

 

[deleted171991]

How is this 10times calculated? you worked 100 hours per week vs 10 hours per week? Your brain performance 100 more powerful than current residents'? Or both, worked 3.2 times longer and thought 3.2 times harder?

10 times more whining, more impolite etc. than us. It may be just 9.99, to be fair. 😛

 

[MoMoGesiologist]

10 times more whining, more impolite etc. than us. It may be just 9.99, to be fair. 😛

And I am sure the generation before thought the same of you... sir 😉

 

[2Fast2Des]

**** that, the only correct and holy way is antiparallel overlapping Y's of tape secured with mastisol on a freshly washed face.

I love how in training ppl teach you to think your ETT just like falls out or if it is nudged it flies across the room like a WWE wrestler

It doesn't? I thought one turn of the head meant death?

 

[deleted162650]

I love how in training ppl teach you to think your ETT just like falls out or if it is nudged it flies across the room like a WWE wrestler

Well it does when certain attendings are in the room.

“Tube’s Out!!! Tube’s Out!!!!”
😆

 

[btbam]

As an anesthetist, I am friendly enough with most of my attendings (and some I socialize with outside of work) that I call them by their first name except for a few older ones. In front of patients and families I always make sure to call them Dr. so and so though,

 

[deleted171991]

And I am sure the generation before thought the same of you... sir 😉

Yes...sir.

 

[Twiggidy]

Well it does when certain attendings are in the room.

“Tube’s Out!!! Tube’s Out!!!!”
😆

You guys tape LMAs or nah?

 

[2Fast2Des]

You guys tape LMAs or nah?

Is it bad to not tape? If it's a case that doesn't involve any head movement, I huess not, unless it's a flimsy LMA that doesn't seat hot without tape. I'm used to IGEL so for that one plug and play is nice. I would tape just to feel reassured

 

[deleted171991]

You guys tape LMAs or nah?

Nah. But I'm the only one I know not to.

 

[pgg]

You guys tape LMAs or nah?

Usually. Unless it's a non-supine case and/or the head is out of my easy sight/reach it's not really needed, but it's easy enough to do.

 

[deleted162650]

You guys tape LMAs?

Usually yes. For sure if it's a lateral or beach chair case or just ain't sitting quite right, or if it's a flex LMA for a septo/turb. If it's something quick like a knee scope or other distal extremity case and the head isn't going anywhere, then sometimes I'll get lazy and go tapeless.

or nah?

(Warning: The above song is absolutely filthy)

 

[coffeebythelake]

You guys tape LMAs or nah?

yes. always

 

[MetaPhysicianBlog]

We need more formality and decorum in the OR. Residents should curtsy to their attendings. Nurses should do a Japan inspired bow. And when the nurse administrator walks through, we should fall to the floor with our heads on the ground.

In all seriousness, respect and formality have a place. But to continue to enforce a strictly hierarchical structure where you show complete deference to your superior, don't speak up or have independent thought or raise some resistance, contributes to why doctors are so easy to manipulate by administrators and the hospital system. How can you expect us to stand up for ourselves or our specialty or to surgeons if we spent our whole training being beaten down like a sad puppy waiting for treats and approval from master? There needs to be a balance.

I think the first part if part of the surgical time out, right?

 

[dannyboy1]

In all seriousness, respect and formality have a place. But to continue to enforce a strictly hierarchical structure where you show complete deference to your superior, don't speak up or have independent thought or raise some resistance, contributes to why doctors are so easy to manipulate by administrators and the hospital system. How can you expect us to stand up for ourselves or our specialty or to surgeons if we spent our whole training being beaten down like a sad puppy waiting for treats and approval from master? There needs to be a balance.

Nobody expects you to stand up for yourself or your specialty. Administration wants you to churn out cases quickly, without question, and at all hours. They also don’t like dealing with costumer (surgeon) complaints. It’s kind of like being a wh0re, except that we have to pay taxes on our income...

 

[Drangue]

We need more formality and decorum in the OR. Residents should curtsy to their attendings. Nurses should do a Japan inspired bow. And when the nurse administrator walks through, we should fall to the floor with our heads on the ground.

In all seriousness, respect and formality have a place. But to continue to enforce a strictly hierarchical structure where you show complete deference to your superior, don't speak up or have independent thought or raise some resistance, contributes to why doctors are so easy to manipulate by administrators and the hospital system. How can you expect us to stand up for ourselves or our specialty or to surgeons if we spent our whole training being beaten down like a sad puppy waiting for treats and approval from master? There needs to be a balance.

Dude... I don't think anyone is saying that. It's about being respectful. I'm 2 months in and kicking ass by saying exactly what people have suggested earlier. You say "Yes/no sir/maam" or "Dr.____".

I've been to 3 baseball games, tickets to race track, 4 drug rep dinners, get free food and some REAL coffee at the attending lounge which only me and one other dude get. I honestly owe to the fact that we are the only ones who are respectful, address our superiors properly and communicate like professionals. We have a resident from California and is this hippie who absolutely refuses to address people formally so let's just say he still drinks the glorified dirt water in our call room and i've heard one attending planned a party around his call day.

This is medicine. Give people what they want which is respect... or at least the illusion of it. They will eat it up.

This "bowing your head" thing is working great so far.

 

[narcotics999]

Dude... I don't think anyone is saying that. It's about being respectful. I'm 2 months in and kicking ass by saying exactly what people have suggested earlier. You say "Yes/no sir/maam" or "Dr.____".

I've been to 3 baseball games, tickets to race track, 4 drug rep dinners, get free food and some REAL coffee at the attending lounge which only me and one other dude get. I honestly owe to the fact that we are the only ones who are respectful, address our superiors properly and communicate like professionals. We have a resident from California and is this hippie who absolutely refuses to address people formally so let's just say he still drinks the glorified dirt water in our call room and i've heard one attending planned a party around his call day.

This is medicine. Give people what they want which is respect... or at least the illusion of it. They will eat it up.

This "bowing your head" thing is working great so far.

2 months and you have done 3 baseball games, tickets to race track, 4 drug rep dinners.....

You handsome, hot? 😉

 

[2Fast2Des]

Nobody expects you to stand up for yourself or your specialty. Administration wants you to churn out cases quickly, without question, and at all hours. They also don’t like dealing with costumer (surgeon) complaints. It’s kind of like being a wh0re, except that we have to pay taxes on our income...

Does that mean saying no to doing non emergency cases in the middle of the night or cancelling cases when necessary mean ending up on the chopping block?

 

[2Fast2Des]

2 months and you have done 3 baseball games, tickets to race track, 4 drug rep dinners.....

You handsome, hot? 😉

Sounds like he's packing 😳

 

[Psai]

Dude... I don't think anyone is saying that. It's about being respectful. I'm 2 months in and kicking ass by saying exactly what people have suggested earlier. You say "Yes/no sir/maam" or "Dr.____".

I've been to 3 baseball games, tickets to race track, 4 drug rep dinners, get free food and some REAL coffee at the attending lounge which only me and one other dude get. I honestly owe to the fact that we are the only ones who are respectful, address our superiors properly and communicate like professionals. We have a resident from California and is this hippie who absolutely refuses to address people formally so let's just say he still drinks the glorified dirt water in our call room and i've heard one attending planned a party around his call day.

This is medicine. Give people what they want which is respect... or at least the illusion of it. They will eat it up.

This "bowing your head" thing is working great so far.

You sure you're kicking? You wipe the dust off your knees yet?

 

[Hoya11]

Dude... I don't think anyone is saying that. It's about being respectful. I'm 2 months in and kicking ass by saying exactly what people have suggested earlier. You say "Yes/no sir/maam" or "Dr.____".

I've been to 3 baseball games, tickets to race track, 4 drug rep dinners, get free food and some REAL coffee at the attending lounge which only me and one other dude get. I honestly owe to the fact that we are the only ones who are respectful, address our superiors properly and communicate like professionals. We have a resident from California and is this hippie who absolutely refuses to address people formally so let's just say he still drinks the glorified dirt water in our call room and i've heard one attending planned a party around his call day.

This is medicine. Give people what they want which is respect... or at least the illusion of it. They will eat it up.

This "bowing your head" thing is working great so far.

the hippie probably doesnt mind the "dirt water" and wouldnt want to go to the party 😉

 

[Hoya11]

Does that mean saying no to doing non emergency cases in the middle of the night or cancelling cases when necessary mean ending up on the chopping block?

Just keep in mind that when you dont do a case because its "the middle of the night" or cancel a case, you are causing decreased revenue for the hospital so pick your battles. We work in shifts, I am prepared to work for my entire shift. Im not going to get mad that an appy that could be done tomorrow or the next day gets done tonight, because the surgeon wants to do it for his convenience, and the patient benefits too, so im going to say no because i want to sleep during my shift? The alternative is the case going on to the schedule the next day causing a backup, so when the OR is open I try to get it done and out of the way for the sake of the next day, clear the board

 

[Drangue]

You sure you're kicking? You wipe the dust off your knees yet?

New stick of chapstick as well. Don’t underestimate my will to survive. But yeah, “Kicking ass” is relative, lol.

Oh and yes I am aware that rep dinners are free, baseball tickets are cheap, and it cost them nothing to bring me with them into their lounge every morning. Some1 saidz eye wuz specialz!

 

[Southpaw]

Dude... I don't think anyone is saying that. It's about being respectful. I'm 2 months in and kicking ass by saying exactly what people have suggested earlier. You say "Yes/no sir/maam" or "Dr.____".

I've been to 3 baseball games, tickets to race track, 4 drug rep dinners, get free food and some REAL coffee at the attending lounge which only me and one other dude get. I honestly owe to the fact that we are the only ones who are respectful, address our superiors properly and communicate like professionals. We have a resident from California and is this hippie who absolutely refuses to address people formally so let's just say he still drinks the glorified dirt water in our call room and i've heard one attending planned a party around his call day.

This is medicine. Give people what they want which is respect... or at least the illusion of it. They will eat it up.

This "bowing your head" thing is working great so far.

You’ve got ‘future chief’ written all over you.

 

[pgg]

Dude... I don't think anyone is saying that. It's about being respectful. I'm 2 months in and kicking ass by saying exactly what people have suggested earlier. You say "Yes/no sir/maam" or "Dr.____".

I've been to 3 baseball games, tickets to race track, 4 drug rep dinners, get free food and some REAL coffee at the attending lounge which only me and one other dude get. I honestly owe to the fact that we are the only ones who are respectful, address our superiors properly and communicate like professionals. We have a resident from California and is this hippie who absolutely refuses to address people formally so let's just say he still drinks the glorified dirt water in our call room and i've heard one attending planned a party around his call day.

This is medicine. Give people what they want which is respect... or at least the illusion of it. They will eat it up.

This "bowing your head" thing is working great so far.

Careful

You're the subordinate in this weird tale, and therefore probably at low risk for any blowback, but this kind of flagrant favoritism could spell trouble for the attendings involved. And you've got more important things to do than get embroiled in any of that.